Best FREE Snorkeling Experience? Castaway Cay!

Is Castaway Cay the best snorkeling experience available? While enjoying our 19th Disney Cruise in February of this year, we decided to try out the new(ish) snorkeling trail on Disney’s own private paradise island, Castway Cay. We’ve tried snorkeling at Castaway Cay on previous Disney Cruises in the old area and it was OK. This newer area, though was a lot of fun! The best part? You can experience this snorkeling “trail” for FREE!

Best Snorkeling Experience

The Castaway Cay snorkeling experience begins at Gil’s Fins and Boats or Flippers and Floats, depending on which end of the family beach you want to start. There is a rental fee for the snorkeling equipment, but if you bring your own, you can get a yellow snorkeling vest (required in the snorkeling area) for FREE! Once you’re set with equipment, you head over to the snorkeling area. Located on the Family Beach, just the other side of the jetty from Pelican Plunge, this snorkeling trail occupies 22 acres of the Castaway Cay protected bay. The “trail” is marked with buoys, once you’re further out in the water. The buoys mark underwater hidden treasures that enhance your snorkeling experience. There’s no reef and no boat ride to the snorkeling area. You do have to swim a bit to get to the “trail” portion of the snorkeling area. It’s not real deep. So, what makes me say it’s the best snorkeling experience? Well, where else will you find a sub from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride from Disney’s Magic Kingdom? A Minnie Mouse statue? Sea turtles? Tropical fish? All in a beautiful Bahamian lagoon and you can see it all for FREE! That’s what makes this the best snorkeling experience. You can see our Castway Cay snorkeling experience in our video, below. It’s set to start when we start snorkeling.

Disney Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Disney’s own private island paradise in the Bahamas. You experience Disney hospitality in the Bahamian islands. It’s like a Disney resort on an island! Besides the best snorkeling experience in the Bahamas, you get some of the best BBQ, too at Cookie’s or Cookie’s Too. Your kids can enjoy children’s programming experiences at Scuttle’s Cove, the Teen Hideout, or In Da Shade Game Pavilion while Mom and Dad head over to the adults only beach, Serenity Bay. You can even be one of the first ones off the Disney cruise ship and do the Castaway Cay 5k. An official runDisney event with a really cool medal!

On Castaway Cay, families can run, jog or walk in the Castaway Cay 5K, a great way to explore the island and take in the lush tropical landscape while staying fit. Each finisher gets to take away a special participant’s medal. (Disney)

Be sure to check out the Castaway Cay snorkeling experience on your next Disney Cruise! Bring your own equipment, if you want to see it for free or just rent Disney’s equipment for a reasonable charge (currently $32/day for adults and $16/day for kids ages 5-9). If you’ve tried the snorkeling experience at Disney Castaway Cay, let us know your thoughts in the comments!